The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia has announced the recipients of its inaugural Young Alumni Fund grants. The fund provides recent graduates of Curtis, who completed their studies in 2011 or later, with financial awards to remove barriers to their success as emerging performers and advance their personal artistic visions. Awards will support community and non-profit organizations founded by alumni, production of new commercial film and audio recordings, training in non-musical skills beneficial to the field of music, and general artistic development, such as audition travel, promotional materials, and instrument purchases. Many of the projects address challenges borne from the ongoing pandemic or give voice to historic or personal stories from people of color. The inaugural grantees are: Tessa Ellis (Trumpet ’17, Community Artist Fellow ’18), George Xiaoyuan Fu (Piano ’16), Joshua Halpern (Cello ’19), Natalie Helm (Cello ’11), Oliver Herbert (Cello ’19), Lyman McBride (Trombone ’18), Ashley Milanese (Voice ’15, Opera ’17, Opera ’18), Sonora Slocum (Flute ’11), Jahleel Smith (Bass Trombone ’18), Joshua Stewart (Voice ’09, Opera ’12), and Tania Villasuso (Clarinet ’19). Funding totaling $37,000 was distributed. Grantees also have access to professional guidance and support. More information is available here.
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